Saint Vincent’s Hospital Memorial

Down in Greenwich Village at the intersection of Greenwich Avenue, West 12th Street, and Seventh Avenue, directly across from what had been the entrance to the emergency room of the hospital, is a new triangular park. The property, once owned by Saint Vincent’s Hospital, has been designated as a memorial to both the hospital and the victims of the AIDS Crisis of the 1980’s. The section memorializing the hospital is complete. The AIDS Memorial, located at the apex of the triangle will be finished in May, 2016.

When visiting the park, look for six dark gray medallions embedded in the lighter gray cement of the walkway. The medallions are located near the entrances to the park. Each medallion commemorates one of the six historical events in which Saint Vincent’s Hospital played a unique role.

One medallion pays tribute to the Sisters of Charity of New York who founded the hospital in 1849. The remaining five plaques are dedicated to major events in the history of New York City and Saint Vincent’s Hospital’s role in each event.

Cholera Epidemic – 1849

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire – 1911

Treatment of Steerage Survivors of the Titanic – 1912

Opening of the first and largest AIDS ward on the east coast – 1984

Initial triage hospital following the terrorist attacks on The World Trade Center – September 11, 2001

4 Comments

Gone but not forgotten by those of us who had the privilege to serve the many patients who walked through its doors, were born and died there. While the media does not share this good news to the world, God knows and smiles. Greed and corruption is overpowered by goodness, compassion and love. JCP

It was a terrible tragedy to lose such a vibrant and historical testament to the healing arts, based on the principles of selfless giving. The memorial sounds like a perfect tribute to such a special place.

I will never come to terms with the fact that this wonderful place, such a huge part of my life from my teenage years through my entire career as a physician, has closed. Something awful has happened, and our city is so much the worse for it.